74 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 
the woods, that they did not think of cultivating 
them in their gardens, which were extremely neat but 
small, and not by any means calculated for walking 
in. I think I yet see what I have so often beheld in 
both town and country, a respectable mistress of a 
family going out to her garden in an April morning, 
with her great calash, her little painted basket of 
seeds, and her robe over her shoulders, to her garden 
labours. These were by no means merely figura¬ 
tive. ... A woman, in very easy circumstances 
and abundantly gentle in form and manners, would 
sow and plant and rake incessantly. These fair gar¬ 
deners were also great florists: their emulation and 
solicitude in this pleasing employment did indeed pro¬ 
duce ‘flowers worthy of Paradise.’ Though not set 
in ‘curious knots’ they were arranged in beds, the 
varieties of each kind by themselves; this if not varied 
and elegant was at least rich and gay.” So the 
women were the gardeners; and they spun and wove 
and knit, also—and found time to take tea with a 
neighbor or to entertain one at home! How did they 
ever do it? 
The secret of it lies, of course, in their sense of 
order, and the methodical system arising from this 
sense. Nothing was ever neglected or postponed; 
everything was done as it should be, when it should 
be. And the result was fat larders, and fat linen- 
